Whiffletree-hook



P. H. THOMPSON. WHIPFLETRBE HOOK.

PatentedJ-une 30, '1891.

(NoModel.)

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UNrrnn STATES PATRICK HENRY THOMPSON, OF BLUFFTON, GEORGIA.

wHlFFLi-:TREE-HooK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 455,259, dated June 30,1891.

Application tiled February 24, 1891. Serial No. 382,665. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it 711.51.11 concern.-

Beitknown that I, PATRICK HENRY THoMP- SON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, anda resident of Bluffton, in the county of Clay and State ofGeorgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVhffletree- Hooks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to lettersand iigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to whiftletree-hooks, having for its object theconstruction of an inexpensive device which is capable of easy andconvenient operation to attach and release the traces or tugs to andfrom a vehicle, the details of all which will be hereinafter fullydedescribed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan of the device attachedto one end of a whiflietree, showing the parts in the positions theywould assume when the trace. was attached, said trace, however, notbeing shown. Fig. 2 is a back view of the parts shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3is a perspective view of the key and handle thereof. Figa is a plan viewof the notched bars, showing the construction thereof in which it isprovided with a hook for attachment to the trace. Fig. 5 is a plan ofthe thimble with the key and bar removed, showing the form of thekey-seat therein. Fig. 6 is a sectional view withv the bar and key inplace, said key being turned to allow the removal of said bar.

Like reference-marks are employed in the designation of correspondingelementsin all the views.

The whiiiictree A may be of any form, as may also the socket B, providedthey are capable of containing` the several elements. The constructionof socket shown is a tapering piece with a recess to slip over thereduced end of the whiffiet-ree, the end of said socket carrying theusual elliptical button for use in case of accident, said button alsoforming a strengthening element in the endof the socket. Through theextension of the socket beyond the end of the reduced portion mentionedis a transverse slot b, preferably rectangular in form. Into this saidslot or recess Vb the bar b will enter, said bar being` providedwith ahook b2 or other means for attachment thereof to the trace, such as asnaphook, loop, or rivets. Notches b3 are cut into the edges of saidbar, and maybe of any number desired, as the bar b will be of sufficientlength to slide in the recess b to adjust the length of traces fromwhiflietree to hames. At right angles to and cutting partially into thesaid slot b is aholeb4, which is of such shape as will allow thehalf-round pin c to revolve therein, which motion should be limited bysuitable construction, for which purpose, as shown, the hole b4 is madeto comprise only about three-fourths of a circle, which, leaving aprojection b5, has the advantage of simplicity, as the hole maybe castin the socket, and also provides a bearing-pointfor the pin c at a rightangle to the line of strain when the vehicle is being drawn, which willprevent the bending of the pin c, and said pin may be made much smaller.The pin cturns into one of the notches b3, as best shown in Fig. (i. Inorder that the pin c may not be by any jar turned around or moved fromits place,l a lip c is formed onfone end, operating to prevent itswithdrawal from the hole when turned in the position shown in Fig. l,and the handle c2 is secured to the upper end and contacts, when in theposition shown in Fig. l, forcibly with the metal of the socket, and bysaid contact causing sufficient friction to prevent the turning of saidpin c within the hole b4, the lip c preventing'v the pin from rising inthe hole and relieving said frictional contact. The lever c2 may beprovided with a hole or other means for the attachment of a cord orchain and the device so be used as a horse-detacher.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a whifetreeslotted near its end with horizontal and vertical slots,the verticalslot extending half its diameter into the horizontal slot and having ashape of approximately three-quarters of a circle, the notched hookcarried in the horizontal slot, and the se1nicircular-shaped key seatedin the vertical slot, substantially as described.

IOO

2. In a device of the class specified, the whiletree having a slottransversely cut in its end, the bar having means for the attachment ofthe trace, and a notched edge, and a round pin seated in said Whifetreeand having the portion near the bar halved, forming corners,substantially as shown, and adapted to he partially revolved in its seatto such a position as will turn one of its corners into one of thenotches in said bar, all combined, arranged, and operating substantiallyas shown and described, and for the purpose specified.

In a device of the class specified, a mefallic head having a socket tofit on the end of a whiiletree and a slot to' receive the end of atrace, and a hole, of a form coinprlsing three-fourths of a circle, insaid head transversely to said slot, and a half-round pin pro-

